Twist, saxony and loop are the three most widely used carpet constructions. Woven carpets are more niche, partly because the traditional construction method used to produce them is slower, making them generally more expensive.
Twist and saxony carpets
Twist carpets, which comprise of twisted yarns that are cut to length, are very popular in the UK. They have a textured surface that feels springy underfoot and is durable thanks to the twist of the carpet fibre.
Saxony carpets are twist carpets with longer fibres, which give a deep pile for a more luxurious finish.
Loop carpets
Loop carpets are made of looped yarns and are perfect for high traffic areas such as stairs as the loops make the carpet hardwearing and durable.
The loops are made from a single strand of yarn, which gives them a beautiful texture and appearance.
There are a variety of loop patterns or variations, and loops may also be used to create a pattern alongside cut yarns (known as cut-and-loop).
We don’t recommend loop piles for people with pets as their claws can snag or pull on the loops – but otherwise they are very hardwearing carpets and very popular for high traffic areas.
Woven carpets
In a traditional woven carpet, the pile yarn (the top layer that you see) is woven into the backing, which gives this style of carpet exceptional stability and durability in your home.
Woven carpets can be patterned or plain. Some plain carpets may also use weaving patterns to give them a subtle but interesting design, similar to cut-and-loop pile carpets.
Because of the way they are constructed, woven carpets have a compact finish that is very hardwearing.